The black dot on his nose and his white-socked paws do not single out Frankie as a particularly remarkable cat.

So
it must be his charm that has led this moggy into the centre of a
bitter tug-of-love which ended in a courtroom drama and left one family
£20,000 worse off.

The
extraordinary row, which has set two lifetime animal lovers against each
other, began last year when Rosalind Mahoney handed over Frankie to
June Allan on what she thought was a temporary basis.

Frankie: New owner June Allan called the nine-year-old cat 'my best friend'

But Mrs Allan, 83, has refused
to hand the cat back and, in a controversial ruling, the judge found in
her favour – leaving the pet’s original owners devastated.

The
questions over custody of the cat began in June last year when Mrs
Mahoney asked her vet for help to find Frankie a friendly family to live
with while builders renovated their house.

Mrs
Mahoney and her husband Michael, a director of advertising agency Havas
Worldwide, were finally ready to transform their property close to
Richmond Park, South-West London, into their dream home. This involved
gutting the house.

The
Mahoneys and their two children Milo and Rosie had to move to a rented
flat nearby and their landlord had said that nine-year-old Frankie was
not welcome.

Mrs Mahoney says she made it clear from the outset she was only looking for someone to foster her pet.

But
she was forced to resort to the courts after attempts by mediators to
persuade Mrs Allan to give Frankie back – including a visit by the
police in December last year – failed.

However,
elderly Mrs Allan, of Fulham, West London, who has taken in more than
30 cats over a lifetime of animal welfare, maintains she would never
have accepted Frankie on a temporary basis.

She says that for her, a cat is for life.

The
confusion led to court and a hearing to decide custody of Frankie was
held at West London County Court on December 13. District Judge Ryan
dismissed Mrs Mahoney’s civil claim ‘for the return of her personal
chattel (cat named Frankie)’ but did not explain his reasons.

Upset: Rosalind Mahoney, seen left with son Milo
and daughter Rosie, insists she made it clear from the outset she only
wanted somebody to foster her pet, but June Allan, right is adamant she
is Frankie's rightful owner

Mrs
Mahoney was ordered to pay Mrs Allan’s legal costs and her own, which
together total £20,000. She has been ordered to pay £10,500 by January
10.

Mrs Mahoney, 50,
said: ‘We are all absolutely distraught. I have been crying and the
children are very upset. Frankie was such a lively member of our family.
He brought us so much joy.’

She added: ‘I did everything I could
do to reason with Mrs Allan but she wouldn’t listen. I asked the RSPCA
for advice and I even called the police to get my cat back but they told
me there was nothing they could do.

‘My
solicitor said the only way was to go to court. He was certain we would
win. But – despite all the evidence that Frankie is ours – the judge
ruled in her favour.

'There
is no justice. And now not only do we not have Frankie but I have a
£20,000 legal bill, half of which I must pay in the next 28 days. I
don’t have that kind of money – it’s Christmas.’

'Now not only do we not have Frankie but I have a £20,000 legal bill'

Original owner Rosalind Mahoney

But widow Mrs Allan is adamant that she is Frankie’s rightful owner.

The retired switchboard operator told the Daily Mail: ‘I wanted to be a vet when I was a girl but I couldn’t because of the war.

‘But I have always taken in animals who need a home. I never would have agreed to “foster” anyone’s cat.

‘I could not believe it when she sent the policemen after me.’

Mrs
Allan, who has chronic asthma and arthritis, added: ‘He is very happy
here. He follows me around everywhere I go and he puts his paws around
my neck when we have a cuddle.

‘He is a great companion. He gives me a reason to get up and go to the shops. He is my best friend. ‘And at the end of the day the judge decided that Frankie is mine.’

As
for Frankie, he simply divides his time between sitting on top of the
fridge, rolling around in front of the electric fire and sitting on Mrs
Allan’s lap when she watches TV.

Sam the cat recently purchased a pricey elliptical machine. According to friends, Sam’s New Year’s resolution every year for the past three has been to lose weight, and so far he hasn’t been successful. But this year, said friends, Sam is getting serious.

There’s only one problem: Sam can’t figure out how to make the high tech exercise machine work.

“He was really excited when the FedEx truck pulled up yesterday with his new toy,” said roommate Jim Ferguson. ”But once he got it into the living room and hopped on, nothing seemed to happen. He’s not burning any calories and he’s not breaking a sweat.”

Ferguson suspects Sam might be doing it wrong and has urged his roommate to read the manual.

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